A review of the respiratory management of a patient with high level tetraplegia

Abstract

This clinical case is of great interest since respiratory failure is the major acute cause of death in traumatic tetraplegic patients, and the study of such patients has added to our knowledge of the physiology and the mechanics of breathing.We are not given enough information about this 24 year old man:1. Did he have a normal chest X-ray on admission? 2. What were his blood oxygen and CO2 levels on admission? 3. What was his respiratory rate?